(31 Jul 2014, 10:13 pm)beefcake wrote In my opinion Hartlepool doesn't need any double deckers. Passenger loadings wouldn't justify the outlay in them. Whilst it does make sense for them to extend the last service 7 across to Manor, it would also make sense to put an extra service 6 at 2215 from Town to Clavering so people who live that way can use the last 7 and connect in town. Looking at the short service 6 though it wouldn't surprise me if it was withdrawn after the trial period.

(01 Aug 2014, 4:30 pm)col87 wrote . I think Hartlepool needs double deckers at certain times though like school Hollidays and at School Times buses can get packed. The eveing 6 doesent work because they are only going as far as the it needs to be South Fens and Owton Manor like before on a eveing.

(01 Aug 2014, 5:52 pm)benambro wrote I think the 36 needs double deckers and I that's not happening anytime soon! I understand what your saying, but a think a service needs to be constantly full for it to be double decker.

(01 Aug 2014, 6:58 pm)col87 wrote . I dont think the 36 will ever be double decker service unless anyone knows otherwise it seems the management are happy for people to be squashed on the bus without been able to see where you are.

(02 Aug 2014, 3:26 pm)AIG20 wrote Information from "Dan's Bus Photos" of the "SNE Bus Enthusiasts Facebook Group":

Stockton MAN E300 24102 is parked at the rear of Sunderland Depot alongside withdrawn MAN ALX300s 22672/3.

Therefore, it looks as if the MAN E300s are next to be repainted (and debranded) ready for when the new ADL E300s arrive sometime after September. I wonder what will happen to 22672 & 22673 since they are V-reg?

(01 Aug 2014, 6:58 pm)col87 wrote . I dont think the 36 will ever be double decker service unless anyone knows otherwise it seems the management are happy for people to be squashed on the bus without been able to see where you are.

(03 Aug 2014, 8:03 am)Roland Pratt wrote Yes its disgusting. I'm a big fan of double deckers. They allow for extra capacity when its needed and if its not needed, so what there's nothing lost. And they take up less road space. They should never have been phased out.

(03 Aug 2014, 11:06 am)cumbria0902150 wrote Extra capacity, less road space, but they cost roughly £40k-50k more than a single decker, they cost more to run, can cost more to insure due to the risk of tree/bridge strikes, and depending on type they often can't match the efficiency of a single deck due to the same rated engine, or sometimes detuned engine, lugging more weight around, so for the operator there's usually more lost than they'd often gain. Very easy to see why some operators will only buy double decks if they're really needed or they can clearly justify the additional costs.
Even though Stagecoach own their own insurance company, everything still has to be done above board to satisfy the regulators, so they can't just reduce the insurance costs to suit.

(03 Aug 2014, 5:19 pm)Tom wrote Does anyone know if the Tridents will still be on the Walkergate services tomorrow, and the older ALX300's?
If so, does anyone know if they stick to similar boards#?

(03 Aug 2014, 5:19 pm)Tom wrote Does anyone know if the Tridents will still be on the Walkergate services tomorrow, and the older ALX300's?
If so, does anyone know if they stick to similar boards#?

(03 Aug 2014, 7:01 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes they're on the same boards every day... 3 on 22's, 2 on 12's and one on the 38s

(03 Aug 2014, 11:06 am)cumbria0902150 wrote Extra capacity, less road space, but they cost roughly £40k-50k more than a single decker, they cost more to run, can cost more to insure due to the risk of tree/bridge strikes, and depending on type they often can't match the efficiency of a single deck due to the same rated engine, or sometimes detuned engine, lugging more weight around, so for the operator there's usually more lost than they'd often gain. Very easy to see why some operators will only buy double decks if they're really needed or they can clearly justify the additional costs.
Even though Stagecoach own their own insurance company, everything still has to be done above board to satisfy the regulators, so they can't just reduce the insurance costs to suit.

(03 Aug 2014, 8:41 pm)aureolin wrote But if your customers are packed like sardines on a single decker, doesn't that provide the justification to provide a double decker? It's either that or the frequency needs looking at, which can often be more expensive than just providing double deckers in the first place...

(03 Aug 2014, 8:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Trouble with the 36 is the heavy loadings are only a maximum 10 mile stretch of the route, the rest is sparse enough to justify a single deck.

(03 Aug 2014, 8:55 pm)aureolin wrote Would that not normally be enough to justify? I can think of a good handful of routes that have deckers, yet can't really justify them for half the route. ANE X1/X2 being a good example, and GNE's X1 being another. To me, if you've got mass standees for a 10 mile stretch, then it's a problem that needs resolving.

(03 Aug 2014, 8:55 pm)aureolin wrote Would that not normally be enough to justify? I can think of a good handful of routes that have deckers, yet can't really justify them for half the route. ANE X1/X2 being a good example, and GNE's X1 being another. To me, if you've got mass standees for a 10 mile stretch, then it's a problem that needs resolving.

(04 Aug 2014, 5:59 pm)Andy wrote 27508 receiving engineering at monument

(03 Aug 2014, 8:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Trouble with the 36 is the heavy loadings are only a maximum 10 mile stretch of the route, the rest is sparse enough to justify a single deck.

(04 Aug 2014, 8:51 pm)alanf wrote Which part of the route is the 10 mile bit? Im guessing its not Billingham to Hartlepool. I would of thought that bit could be every half hour and send every other back to Park End or wherever it came from thereby increasing the frequency on the busy bit of the route

(05 Aug 2014, 7:18 pm)AIG20 wrote How fast is the X34 to Newcastle compared to the Metro from South Shields/Chichester?

(05 Aug 2014, 7:22 pm)BJ10VUS wrote From South Shields and Chichester, it'll take longer than the Metro. You'll have to change somewhere along the route, probably Horsley Hill or Marsden, to board the X34 from a something like the E1/E2/E6 or 10/11. The X34 doesn't serve Chichester or South Shields.

(05 Aug 2014, 7:28 pm)Tom wrote I've done it before and changed onto a 5 at Boldon ASDA.

(05 Aug 2014, 7:27 pm)AIG20 wrote I live at Marsden, somewhere near to the Marsden Inn. Therefore, I can walk to the X34 bus stop, whereas I will have to get the E1/E2/E6, 7/8 or 11 bus to get the Chichester and/or South Shields Metro Station.

I guess that will make the X34 just as quick with a lot less hassle.

(05 Aug 2014, 9:06 pm)Robinwtait.19 wrote Hi Dan. Is 37143/144 out in south Shields yet Since They Arrived Last Week. also is 22734 still here because i have not seen it for a while the last time i saw it was when it was sitting in the Depot Yard. Regards Robin